Matches, without interruption, stretching beyond midnight had been an issue for quite some time and the BCCI has stated that the 20th over now must be finished in 90 minutes. Previously, the 20th over was to start by the 90th minute.
“The minimum over-rate to be achieved in IPL games shall be 14.11 overs per hour. The two time-outs in the innings that will consume a total of 5 minutes have also been included in the stipulated 90 minutes. In uninterrupted matches, this means that the 20th over should finish within 90 minutes (being 85 minutes of playing time plus 5 minutes of time-out) of innings’ start. For delayed or interrupted matches where an innings is scheduled to be less than 20 overs, the maximum time of 90 minutes shall be reduced by 4 min 15 secs for every over by which the innings is reduced,” the BCCI mail stated.
The fourth umpire has been given the responsibility to keep a check on this and can even warn the batting side if it indulges in time-wasting tactics.
In view of the recent controversies over soft signals by on-field umpires in the India-England series, the BCCI has decided to do away with that in this IPL. The onfield umpire’s signal will not have any bearing on the third umpire’s decision. “The on-field umpire giving soft signal while referring the decision to the third umpire will not be applicable,” the BCCI stated.
However, another controversial issue – the Umpire’s Call – will remain effective as that rule comes within the Decision Review System (DRS). “The decision taken by the bowler’s end umpire will stay when the ball-tracking technology indicates a ‘marginal’ decision,” the BCCI stated.
The board has also authorised the third umpire to take a final call regarding a ‘short run’. The third umpire has thus been empowered to overrule the on-field umpire’s decision on cutting down a run off the batting team’s total due to a run not being completed properly.